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could also lessen the desire or need to seek out
a record deal, instead operating in a fully DIY realm. We are seeing that independent artists are setting up their own labels to put out their music. In an industry where big labels will claim ownership of recording masters or set timelines and targets for artists to reach with their work, the allure of eschewing that system is evident. What’s more, it gives artists creative autonomy and the space to hold on to their authenticity. Surely, then, to have a sustainably structured independent music industry would be beneficial to the strength of the work being made? “I think so,” Paul considers this point. “We love having control over everything we do.” Aisling continues, “Yeah and there’s also the community side of it nurturing independent artists and scenes. We’d never want to lose that. Yeah. Like we work with a lot of our friends anyway, and it’s been amazing being able to just do what we want when we want as well, because at the moment we struggle to keep up with a release schedule as a label would expect you to. We simply don’t have the time to do that.” I’m lucky I enjoy both my jobs but I have to give up a lot of evenings and weekends to do music and it does put a bit of a spanner in my social life at times. – Jillelli Also navigating the challenges and benefits of being an independent artist is electronic musician and DJ Jillelli, who describes how the pros and cons often collide. “The greatest challenge is that you steer it by yourself, from creating the songs to the promotion and you need to invest a lot of your time and energy on that. I collaborate with other artists which is incredible but as a solo independent artist the only person you really answer to is yourself, so if your project isn’t going the way you’d like it to it ultimately comes back to you,” explains Jillelli. “The greatest benefit is also actually that you can steer it by yourself! I choose everything I put out for audiences to hear and if I don’t feel comfortable with something I just don’t put it out. I see everything as a creative choice and you learn something from every creative endeavour so I never see a creative exercise as a loss. I do work with others and I’m not ignorant to the fact that although I am independent I work with a network of very talented people and that is very important for the project. However, because I am independent I get to choose who I work with which is a huge benefit I may not always get with a label.” In managing her output, Jillelli has amassed substantial and impressive coverage of her thrilling alternative pop productions, with her recent single Don’t Leave The Party getting a spin on BBC6’s ‘New Music Fix’ with Deb Grant and Tom Ravenscroft. She has also received support in more practical guises, too, in the form of arts grants. While they have provided short-term help in honing her craft and dedicating time to projects, the support is fleeting and doesn’t provide a solution for artists to have a worklife balance. “I’ve been fortunate enough to get support from some music schemes in Ireland which has afforded me time to work on music which I’m very grateful for but realistically I don’t think I could live off of that for life. Ireland is a very expensive place and I work in education alongside making music. I’m lucky I enjoy both my jobs but I have to give up a lot of evenings and weekends to do music and it does put a bit of a spanner in my social life at times. People might think that sounds tiring and time consuming but I always feel lucky to spend time on creative projects.” After spending time talking to each of the artists, A Band Called Paul, SWELTR, Larabel, Banyah and Jillelli, hearing each of their stories and experiences with the music industry and their relationship to releasing music as an independent artist, it was striking – and extremely enriching – how positive each of them remained. Furthermore, the inherent passion each of them expressed when speaking about their songwriting process, their dreams of performing their music to audiences, interacting with fans, and their aspirations for their releases was so extremely humbling and inspiring. From the importance of community to the need for more access to artist income schemes, at the end of the day, the main motivation in each of these artists was music. As Paul McDonnell described his musical trajectory to me in great detail, he paused for a moment and concluded, “It’s instinctive. Making music is something that I have to keep doing if I want my soul and head to be in a good place. I just keep moving on.” Long Way Down A Band Called Paul’s new single with GLU is out now. abandcalledpaul.com SWELTR’s debut gig is on in Sin É on Saturday September 9 supporting Eat Your Own Head, €5. Their latest single Chewing Gum is streaming now. linktr. ee/sweltrband Larabel’s new single eleven eleven is out now - linktr.ee/Larabelmusic Banyah’s new single Too Easy is out now - linktr.ee/ banyahmusic Jillelli’s new single Don’t Leave the Party is out now - @jillellimusic 21